<p>I go to an inner city high school where less than half the freshman end up making it to senior year and graduating. However, the school offers the IB program so I decided to go there. I'm one of the top students at this school made up f mostly under represented minorities. I however, am not one. I'm using my experiences at this school for my college essays, but I am wondering if the simple fact that this school is under performing will help or hurt my chances for admission at the schools I am applying to. This past year was the best year we've had for students getting into elite colleges with people getting into schools such as Georgetown, Tufts, Boston College, and Holy Cross.</p>
<p>bump (10 char)</p>
<p>Don't worry about it.They usually view you in context of what your opportunities are. The advantages of going to an underperfomring school is that it is easier to be ranked high/classes tend to be easier, but then again you won't be surrounded by intellectuals, people with same interests, etc. BTW, if your school is underperforming then my school would be regarded as absolute crap. No one from my school gets into top schools such as those you have named. So you're school's not all that bad.</p>
<p>This past year was the first year that we've really had more than one person go to an elite college. The best we've had before this year has been one or two to Smith and Mt. Holyoke every year. The IB program is the only reason why we've had people get into decent colleges, and like I said in my first post half the freshman that walk into school on the first day won't graduate or even make it to Sophmore year.</p>
<p>dude dont talk. we dont have IB. we're 50< in size. our admin is screwed up and is giving us a circus day as opposed to electives. everyone goes to mich, mich state, wayne, and yeshiva university. one brandeis and one wharton in our approx. 36 year history. oh, we also have no art, music, etc programs. one sucky sports team. plenty of non-motivated kids (they are the overwhelming majoity, so the administrators cater to them). and to top it all offthis has been our first year in AP. luckily weve had some success this past year I got an 800 on my SAT II USH and 5 on my APUSH and someone esle fived their bio exam. also, we had the largest representation at national bible competition this year (our first year of being on the map nationally). nonetheless, you guys really dont have much to complain about even if your school IS inner city or wtvr. seems like the majority of our school yeear is party time :(</p>
<p>I'm not complaining about my school at all. In fact, I really like my school. I'm just wondering how the school will affect my chances to get into a good college. Will it work for or against me?</p>
<p>Neither, most likely. Being in IB, you're probably insulated from much of the school anyway. My school was much the same. Getting good grades and a high rank will help, though.</p>
<p>trying 2Bcool---are you bashing UMich? </p>
<p>Anyway, If you think you're school is bad, in my schools 50 year history, we've had 2 go to WUSTL and 1 to UMICH. No APs, No IB, few honors, sucky sports teams, non certified teachers. This definitely affected my college acceptances, and is still affecting my college career, I am so far behind the rest of the crowd in terms of academics it's ridiculous. I don't forsee a major problem catching up and passing them, but I'm definitely not on a level playing field for my first semester. Just make sure your kids go to a top private or public school so they don't have to go through this nightmare.</p>
<p>Do a lot of kids from your school, esp. the IB program end up attending top tier schools? And the second question is, though your school may be mostly minorities, but do you interact with them regularly in your extra curricualr activties or some of your other classes?</p>
<p>jhum: no im not bashing mich at all (why should i, my dad is a prof at the med school). its just...we need a bit of variation (btw noone has ever gone to wustl). im trying my best to stay cool and be the best i can be with the parameters given. </p>
<p>p.s. ditto on the progeny advice</p>
<p>I can see 2 ways of college admins looking at your school.</p>
<p>1) You didn't have many opportunities.
2) GPA and Class Rank is good, yes, but you didn't have much competition.</p>
<p>You guys think your schools are bad? You should see mine...:(</p>
<p>Virtuoso what school do you go to? I live in the Bay Area, I'm just wondering.</p>
<p>Last year, I was pretty much the only person accepted into an Ivy League -Cornell. Ironically I didn't attend for personal/financial reasons. We had someone who got a full ride to West Point and another accepted at Carnegie Mellon...but it was strange since the year before was less driven than ours, but got into better schools. </p>
<p>I don't think your school will affect you at all. If you took the opportunities you could, and even went beyond, that'll do.</p>
<p>I totally disagree with your statement RockyRoadAhead, your school can affect you more than you know, as I am figuring out now.</p>
<p>yes, I interact with the minorities in sports and in the hallways, in fact most of the IB program is made up of minorities. As a whole seniore class of about 300 students, we have i believe 15 full IB students, and only 5 are white. I am going to base my essay upon dealing with many people who are low income and the struggles they have had to face, and how this has affected me as a person. Do you guys think this is a good idea? It may have the college actually respecting ym school more than they originally would by just looking at the stats.</p>